Driving the wild Road F985 (Jökulvegur)

Located in the Eastern Region of Iceland, the F985 (Jökulvegur) is a very winding drive with hundreds of turns. It's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles. This road is practically vertical in places.

The road runs south-north from Highway 1 (the ring road) to Skálafellsjökull ski cabin and Joklasel. The road ends at the Jöklasel Hut. It’s 17 km long. It is a rough and challenging road only for a 4 wheel drive vehicle. The path is not quite as bad as expected, but it's certainly not one for a nervous driver, non-4WD, or even remotely foggy day. Most of the road is actually not too bad, but there are two or three sections that could be very dangerous in slippery conditions. Some parts can be quite scary if you dislike steep roads with drop-offs and loose gravel. Driving in a small passenger car is simply and plainly irresponsible and can be very dangerous: you’ll end up with a huge rescue bill. It’s one of the famous F Roads of the country.

It’s one of the highest roads of the country climbing up to 918m (3,011ft) above the sea level. The road is surrounded by lunar landscapes and is pretty bumpy. It’s only open during the summer months, usually between late June and early September. Expect to be alone, this track is not very busy. It is not recommended to drive unaccompanied. In case of a breakdown, there is very little in the way of passing traffic or inhabitants around, and no cell phone service in parts. The drive offers breathtaking landscapes. The road offers breathtaking views. One part part where there is a combination of hairpin bends and extremely steep road can be intimidating if you are not used to this type of road. On the way you can see location spots from movies that have been made here such as Batman Begins, James Bond (Die Another day), Tomb Raider, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and from the TV show Game of Thrones.